Division Word Problems

3rd Grade MathMultiplication and Division4 pages

About this worksheet

A 3rd grade class trip to the city aquarium links the eight division word problems on this sheet. Part 1 has equal groups and arrays, such as 36 students in 4 tour groups and 28 sea stars in rows of 7. Part 2 adds measurement, with 48 pounds of fish and 54 inches of kelp, and one unknown start number in □ ÷ 8 = 7. In Part 3, students test Sam's claim about 42 seashells and solve a two-step problem about 64 students in the bleachers. Every problem has its own work box. The answer page writes out each equation, and the sheet covers Common Core 3.OA.3, 3.OA.4 and 3.OA.8.

Remix for free

$Division Word Problems: Multiplication and Division - page 1$

$Division Word Problems: Multiplication and Division - page 2$

$Division Word Problems: Multiplication and Division - page 3$

$Division Word Problems: Multiplication and Division - page 4$

Curriculum objectives covered

3.OA.3

“Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.”

Problems 1 to 4 and 6 cover equal groups, rows and measurement in pounds and inches.

3.OA.4

“Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 × ? = 48, 5 = _ ÷ 3, 6 × 6 = ?.”

Problem 5 asks for the unknown in □ ÷ 8 = 7, which is 56 juice boxes.

3.OA.8

“Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.”

Problem 8 is two-step: 64 ÷ 2 for the sections, then 32 ÷ 4 for each row.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1 Equal Groups and Arrays

Three problems: 36 students in 4 tour groups, 28 sea stars in rows of 7, and 45 stickers shared among 5 sticker books.

Part 2 Measurement and Missing Numbers

Pounds of fish for penguin habitats, inches of kelp growth per day, and Chef Marco's juice boxes, where students find the start number in □ ÷ 8 = 7.

Part 3 Think Deeper

Students decide whether Sam really needs 8 boxes for 42 seashells, then split 64 students into 2 sections and each section into 4 rows.

Answers

An equation and a sentence answer for each problem, with both steps shown for the bleachers problem.

How teachers use it

Sharing or grouping

Before anyone solves, compare problems 1 and 2. In one the number of groups is known, in the other the size of each row is, and both are still division.

Partner debate

Problem 7 works well in pairs. One partner argues that Sam is right, the other checks with 42 ÷ 6, and they agree on the answer together.

Write your own

Fast finishers can write a new aquarium problem with an answer of 6, then swap it with a partner to solve.

More 3rd Grade Math worksheets

Fractions Place Value Measurement and Data Geometry

Get started today

Create your own lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities in minutes using our AI-powered tools.

Try Chalkie for free